Quantitative Skills and Performance in Principles of Finance: Evidence from a Regional University

This study of students enrolled at a regional university examines the relationship between the students' computational skills an basic algebra abilities and their performance in Principles of Finance (Principles). The study also examines the relationship between various student demographics and interests and performance in Principles. After adjusting for instructor differences, the analysis indicates four statistically significant determinants of success in Principles: student scores in the basic skills algebra test, student scores in the computational skills test, student age, and gender.